Windfarm proposals are abandoned by Community Windpower Ltd

A developer has pulled the plug on plans for a windfarm near Lancaster.

Community Windpower Ltd has abandoned its scheme for a windfarm at Claughton Moor, along with another at Davidstow Wind Farm in north Cornwall.

They had been refused planning consent for eight turbines at Claughton Moor last June.

The firm said the Government had been ‘constantly shifting’ its stance on the renewables industry, which made it hard for the projects to be viable.

Rod Wood, managing director of Community Windpower Ltd, said: “The Government has been constantly shifting its position on UK renewables and it’s now planning to rush through an auction process which is likely to crash the price at best, or in the worst case, stop generators selling green energy altogether.

“UK and overseas investors have hundreds of millions invested in the development of green energy in the UK, all invested on the basis of a fixed strike price until 2020, and any U-turn will completely undermine this investment.

“Meanwhile the Government continues to seek green energy from abroad and with the current lack of clarity beyond 2020, jobs and investment will inevitably be lost overseas at the expense of UK plc.”

The firm added the two projects would have boosted local economies by £100m.